Hydraulically operated exercising table



May 27, 1952 R. E. ALLEN 2,598,204

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED ExERoIsING TABLE May 27, 1952 R. E. ALLEN 2,598,204

HYDRAULCALLY OPERATED EXERCISING TABLE Filed Jan. 21, 1950 2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2 jf? f4 milf/ Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES fr TENT-j oluucla:l

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED EXERISIN G TABLE L Raymond Allen, Kittery, Maine Application January 21, 1950,1Serial No. 139,911 (c1, 12a-'74) 3 Claims.

provements and refinements by which a wider range and variety of muscle stretching exercises may be performed and operation by the user is made easier. The present application is a continuation-in-part of the said prior application.

One of the objects I have had in view is to enable victims of poliomyelitis to put their tensor femoris muscles under more or less prolonged and repeated tension of greater or less intensity in order to overcome the tendency to permanent deformity which exists when those muscles are not paralyzed, but the muscles which act in opposition to them are paralyzed. But I have had in view also to provide means by which otherwise injured or crippled persons may be enabled to exercise the muscles of legs and torso by exing these parts of the body either below or above a horizontal extended position.

The apparatus comprises a stationary central section having a horizontal top on which the pelvic portion of a person may be supported, a leaf section hinged to one side of the central section adapted to support the trunk and head of a person, one or two leaves hinged to the opposite side of the central section adapted to support the legs of the person, and means arranged for operation manually by the occupant for raising and lowering each of the leaf sections independently of the others.

In the accompanying drawings which show an illustrative embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side view of the apparatus showing by full and broken lines some of the positions that may be occupied by the leaf sections;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the apparatus in the form which is provided with two leg supporting leaf sections, one for each leg;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail cross section of one of the motor cylinders taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, showing the voperating' and control elements for one of the pump units;r

Fig. 6 kis a sectional view vtakenv on line 8-6 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail Asectionalviews taken on lines 'l--l and S-VB, respectively, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a diagram of hydraulic operating means for theleg supporting sections.

Like reference characters designate the same parts wherever they occur in all the figures.

The embodiment of the apparatus here shown vis supported by a base structure or sub frame constructed as a loW table with legs I at the ends and mid length of both sides, and a flat top 2 supported by the legs. On 'the table top is mounted a box column 4 with a flat top 5. This structure constitutes the support for the pelvic portion of a persons body, previously referred to, and is made with suitable dimensions transversely and lengthwise of the base for that purpose; but it is not wide enough in the length dimension of the base to afford any support for the back and shoulders or the legs of a person lying Yon the apparatus in proper position'for obtaining the benets of the apparatus.

A leaf section 6 is hinged or pivoted on a horizontal axis toone side ofthe stationary support, extending over one end of the base structure. This leaf is long enough to support the trunk and head of anadult person lying on the apparatus. To the opposite side of the central section are pivoted'on a horizontal axis two leaves 'I and 8 which extend over the opposite end of the base structure and form supports for the legs of such a person. Instead of two leaves for leg supports, a single leaf wide enough to support both legs side by'` side may be provided, as shown in my prior application Serial N o. 410.

Each of the leaves can be moved independently of the others and placed either horizontal, in the same plane with the top of the rigid central section, or at various inclinations above or below the horizontal plane. The apparatus includes hydraulic pumps and Vmotor cylinders operable by the occupant for raising the hinged leaves and lowering them or permitting them to be lowered by gravity. Two pumps and associated release valves are provided for thisA purpose, one being connected by a conduit 9 with a motor cylinder I I) for applying force to the torso-supporting leaf 6; and the other being connected to a conduit I I, selector Valve I2 and conduits I3 and I4 with motor cylinders I5 and I6 through which force is applied to the leg supporting leaves 'I and 8 respectively. f Y U The motor cylinder |5 is shown in detail in Fig. 4. Its closed head end is connected by a hori- Zontal pivot l1 with hangers I8 and |9 which depend from brackets and 2|, respectively, secured to the under side of the top member 2 of the base structure. The cylinder projects through a hole in the base structure top which is enough larger than the cylinder to permit a limited extent of angular movement about the pivot |1 in a plane extending lengthwise of the apparatus. A piston 22 is fitted in the cylinder and is connected to a piston rod 23 which passes through a stuiiing box 24 and is coupled by a pivot 25 with a bracket 26 secured to the under side of the leg support 1. The hangers I8 and |S are each constructed of two longitudinally slotted bars which are overlapped through portions of their length so that their slots register, and are secured by bolts 21 passing through the slots. This construction provides for an initial adjustment in the course of construction ofthe apparatus to set the limits of swinging movement of the leaf at prescribed points. Conduit |3 is connected with the cylinder in communication with a port 28a in the head end.

The other motors, I0 and |6, are like the one just described and are mounted in the same way. The motor ID for' the leaf 6, however, is engaged with the leaf otherwise than` by a direct connection. Its piston rod 23a ispivotedat an intermediate point in the length of a lever 28 which has a fulcrum connection with the column 4 beneath the pivot axis of the leaf E, by means of a bracket 29 secured to the side` of the column, and its outer end carries a roller 30 which bears on the under side of the leaf. Due to this lever, the thrust of the motor is applied to the leaf at a distance well away from the pivot of the leaf and a wider angle oi movement is imparted to the leaf than would be possible if the piston rod 23a were pivoted directly tothe leaf at the location where the thrust of the lever is applied.

The pumps previously referred to are shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 at 3| and 3'2, and the pump 3| is shown in elevation in Figs. 5 and 6. Both are alike. I have employed for this purpose a standard commercial pump' which is obtainable in the open market and needs no detailed description here. It is sufficient to say that the pump comprises a baseV 33; which is also a tank containing a suiicient quantity of hydraulic working iiuid, which may be oil, toimpart the full throw to the pistons of the motor or motors with which it is coupled. It contains a double acting plunger operated by a lever 34 which draws oil from the tank and delivers it through channels formed in the casing structure to the conduit9 or Il, as the case may be. In Fig. 6 a fragment of the conduit is shown. The customary check valves (not shown) are employed to prevent return iiow from the conduit I to the tank. These check valves are by-passed Within the housing by a return passage normally closed by a release valve operable by actuation of a lever 3K5; The angular position of the lever about its rocking axis determines the extent of opening of theY release valve and hence the rate'of return iow of liquid through the pipe I to the tank. Thus the rate of descent of the individual leaves is readily controlled; Both pumps are mounted on aV cross beam 36 which extends across th'ev base structure below the box column 4,k and are arranged so that the movements of their operating levers 34 are lengthwise of the apparatus.

The present invention includes mean'sby which the occupant of the exercising apparatus can operate pumps located as herein described and also shift the release valves of such pumps. In accordance with this invention the operating lever 34 is bent at right angles and extends outwardly through an arcuate slot 31 in the adjacent side wall 4a of the column 4 and is bent upward outside of the column and provided with a nut 38 to which an extension handle arm is connected. This handle arm extends above the stationary support 5 to a distance convenient for grasping of the handle knob on its upper end by the hand of a person lying on the exercising apparatus. The movement of the handle in working the pump is forward and back in a nearly horizontal path, with only such deviation from the horizontal as is due to the fact that it swings in an arc about its fulcrum, which is indicated at in Fig. 6.

A hand lever 4| for swinging the lever 35 of the release valve extends upward from a horizontal rock shaft 42 mounted in a bearing in the column Wall 4c. An arm 43 on rock shaft 42 inside the column is connected by a link t4 with an arm 45 onV a second rock shaft 46 which is contained in a bearing 41 secured to the inner side of the column wall 4a. A second arm 48 on rock shaft 46 is connected by a link 49 with the release valve lever 35. f

With the arrangement here shown, the release valve is closed when the parts are in the position shown in the drawings. To open the valve, the handle 4| is moved toward the head end of the apparatus, whereby arm 42 is raised and, through the linkage described, arm 35 is raised also, whereby the release valve is opened more or less widely according to the extent of movement given to the handle 4|. This handle is located near the top of the stationary support section where it can be reached by the hand of the person occupying the apparatus and moved toward the head and downward about the pivot axis of rock shaft 42.

Pump 3| is provided with a like operating handle and release valve handle and intermediate connections symmetrically and oppositely arranged to the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 with the handles at the right hand side of the apparatus.

The selector valve i2, previously mentioned, and its connections with the pump 32 and motors I5' and I6 are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9. The selector valve casing is mounted on the side of the column 4 which faces toward the foot end of the apparatus and contains two ports in one side with which branches lia and lib of conduit which'lead from the pump vare connected. The conduits i3 and I4 leading to the motors l5 and I5 are connected with ports at the'opposite side of the valve casing in the same planes with the previously mentioned ports. The valve element 5B in the selector valve casing has avtransverse channel 5| and is placeable in a position wherein this channel establishes communication between the branch Ib and conduit |4, the valve element having an obstructing portion 52 which then closes communication between the branch Ha and conduit |3, as shown in Fig. 9. The valve element is movable from this position to a second one in which the part 52 opens communication between branch Ha and conduit |3, closing that between branch IIb and conduit I4; and to a third position in which both fbranches Ha and ||b are inncommunicationwith both conduits I3' and I4. Thus, according' to the position of the valve element,

either leg supporting leaf can be raised and lowered independently of the other, or both can be raised and lowered simultaneously. A handle 53 is provided accessible to the hand of the person occupying the apparatus for shifting the valve element to any one of the three positions described. This handle is illustratively shown in Fig. 9 as operatively coupled with the valve element 50 by means of a pinion 54 with which it is connected and a rack bar 55 connected to the valve element and meshing with this pinion. Other forms of selector valve and other operating means for it may be used in substitution for the one thus illustratively shown.

I have provided means for attaching straps to pass over parts of the body of a person lying on the apparatus. A transverse rod 56 is secured to the under side of the leaf 6 near the hinge axis thereof, and its ends are upturned adjacent to the opposite edges of the leaf and provided with loops 5l and 58 adapted to hold a strap 59 (Fig. 7) passing across the abdomen of the occupant. Also rods Ei) and 6| are mounted on the under side of the leaf adjacent to its opposite edges, extending lengthwise of the leaf from the head end thereof to near the rod 56, around which at any point in their length, straps may be passed to overlie the chest or shoulders of the occupant. Similar rods 'lil are mounted on the leg supporting leaves extending lengthwise thereof adjacent to their opposite edges to hold straps which may be passed over the occupants legs at or near the ankles or knees or thighs, or elsewhere. The provision of rods for this purpose makes possible the location of holding straps at any location lengthwise of the leaves to accommodate persons of different stature.

The simple back and forth movement of the pump handles Suiices to raise any or al1 of the leaves to any desired extent from fully lowered to fully raised Position within the limits of the motors, and movements of the release valve handle 4| to a greater or less distance causes the leaves to be lowered slowly or rapidly as desired. As here shown, the weight of the leaves is relied on to lower them and to apply tension to the muscles which are stretched when the leaves are lowered. I can apply springs to any of them as shown with respect to the leg supporting leaf in my prior application Serial No. 410.

In using the apparatus described, the patient takes his place upon the top of the apparatus with his torso on the leaf E and his legs on the leaves 7 and 8. The strips shown in Figures 7 and 8 may be employed to maintain the patient in place on the leaves. The pump handles 3S may then be selectively operated by the patient to raise any one of these leaves to a desired angle of inclination. The appropriate handle All is then moved by the patient to open the corresponding release valve so as to permit the leaf to descend at any desired rate in accordance with the amount of opening of the valve by a proper setting of the selector valve I2 by manipulation of the handle 53, operation of either of the leaves 'I and 8 or of both of these leaves simultaneously can be brought about, one of the levers 39 being used to pump the working liquid into the motors I5 or i6 or both, the corresponding handle 4I being used to open a release valve for the descent of the leg leaf or leaves.

What I claim is:

1. In an exercising apparatus, a fixed section having a substantially horizontal supporting surface, a leaf hinged to said fixed section at one side of said supporting surface, being placeable in the same plane therewith and at various inclinations above and below that plane, a lever pivoted to the xed section below the connection between the leaf and fixed section, extending thence under n the leaf and bearing thereon at a considerable distance from the pivot of the leaf, a motor cylinder, and an extensible member movable into and out of said cylinder coupled to said lever at an intermediate point between the pivot thereof and the part which bears on the leaf, said lever causing an augmented movement to be transmitted to the leaf from the motor.

2. An exercising apparatus comprising a base structure, a stationary support rising from said base structure having a substantially horizontal supporting surface, a leaf pivoted to said stationary support at one side thereof, a motor cylinder pivoted to the base structure with provision for swinging movement in a plane transverse to the pivot axis of the leaf, a piston in said cylinder having a projecting piston rod engaged with the leaf in a manner to apply upward thrust thereto, a pump connected with the motor cylinder for transfer of working uid to the latter beneath the piston, a pump handle beside the supporting structure located conveniently to be grasped by a person lying on the supporting structure and arranged to be movable back and forth in a substantially horizontal path so as to pump working uid from a source of supply to the motor cylinder, a release valve disposed for operation to open and close a return channel for working duid from the motor, an operating handle beside the supporting structure accessible to the hand of a person lying on the supporting structure, and connections between said handle and valve whereby movement of the handle in one direction or the opposite direction opens or closes the valve respectively.

3. An exercising apparatus comprising a stationary supporting section, a leaf pivoted to one side of said supporting section, two leaves pivoted side by side to the opposite side of the supporting section, a uid motor engaged with said leaf and arranged to apply upward thrust thereon, a pump in iiow connection with said motor having an operating handle at one side of the supporting section, two other motors, each of which is separately engaged with one of the two last named leaves, a second pump having an operating handle at the opposite side of the supporting section from the rst named pump, and flow connections between the second pump and the two last named motors including a selector valve operative to open connection for working fluid to either of said motors separately from the other or to open connection from the pump to both motors simultaneously.

RAYMOND E. ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,142,422 Hawley June 8, 1915 1,261,424 Miller Apr. 2, 1918 1,286,166 Albright NOV. 26, 1918 1,400,546 Holme Dec. 20, 1921 1,830,071 Patton NOV. 3, 1931 2,152,431 Jenseny Mar. 23, 1939 

